Home Care in San Clemente CA
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 30 percent of people is at risk of developing diabetes. One in every three children today will develop diabetes at some point in their lifetimes. For those of Black, Hispanic, and some other ethnicities, that risk increases to one in every two. More than 86 million people throughout the United States are already pre-diabetic. This means that they are living with blood sugar levels that are significantly elevated over the normal range, but that are not yet elevated enough to be considered diabetic. Even more surprising is that at least 25 percent of those who are already diabetic do not even realize that they have the disease.
Diabetes can be a devastating illness on its own, but it can also increase the risk of developing a variety of other health concerns. Those with diabetes are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, stroke, some forms of cancer, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Helping your loved one to prevent this disease, or manage it efficiently should it develop, should be one of your priorities within your home care journey with him. April is Defeat Diabetes Month. This month long observance was set aside to raise awareness of this disease and what can be done to prevent and properly treat and manage it. This is the perfect opportunity for you to work with your loved one and his in home health care services provider to combat this disease in your care journey together.
The Defeat Diabetes Foundation makes these recommendations to slash the risk of developing diabetes more than in half:
- Lose 5 percent of body weight if you are overweight or obese
- Consume 3 servings of whole grains each day
- Consume at least 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day
- Get half an hour to an hour of physical exercise at least 5 days a week
While these are simple and straightforward recommendations, they can also seem daunting. They represent potentially major lifestyle changes and that can be overwhelming. Trying to just jump into these changes can result in frustration that makes your parent give up. Instead, use Defeat Diabetes Month as an opportunity to integrate a series of small changes into your routine and gradually work up to the main goals.
Try some of these tips to gradually work toward your risk-reducing goals during Defeat Diabetes Month:
- One more pound. Rather than focusing on having to lose a large amount of weight, focus just on the next pound. Make a chart that you can fill in with your parent so that he can track her progress as she works toward his next goal.
- One more step. Walking is an exercise that is approachable by nearly everyone. It is a great way to encourage more physical activity in your routine. Encourage your parent to monitor his progress by investing in a pedometer or activity tracker. That way he can know what he has done and push herself to go just a little bit further each day.
- One more change. Doing a sudden overhaul of your parent’s diet can actually do more harm than good. Suddenly changing out all of the foods that he knows and enjoys is shocking and result in resentment and frustration. Instead, focus on making changes gradually. Switch out foods, add in healthy options, and end unhealthy habits one at a time.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in San Clemente, CA, please contact the caring staff at Canaan Home Care today! 1-844-CANAAN-1 (1-844-226-2261)
Source: http://www.defeatdiabetes.org/april-is-defeat-diabetes-month/
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